Clothespole or clothesline prop



- Oct, 20, 1936. G. s. PETERSON CL OTHESPOLE OR CLOTHESLINE PROP Filed Nov. 30, 1934 Patented Oct. 20, 1936 CLOTHESPOLE on George G. Peterson,

GLOTHESLINE PROP Warwick Downs, R. I.

Application November 30, 1934, Serial No. 755,402

7 Claims.

.This invention is an improved clothespole or prop for clotheslines.

One object of the invention is to provide a prop oriclothespole adapted to be engaged with the clothesline in such manner as to prevent its accidental or unwarranted release therefrom.

.Another object of the invention-is to provide a prop or clothespole which may be readily and conveniently engaged with and released from the clothesline .by manual manipulation while resisting accidental or unwarranted release therefrom when in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a prop or clothespole having an eye at its end for engaging the clothesline which is open at one side for the; entrance and exit of the line, with said;,opening guarded by a spring element to prevent the line from escaping through the openmg.---:- Another object of the invention is to provide a prop or clothespole having means for preventing its line-engaging end from slipping or sliding on the clothesline under lateral strain or stress. Another object of the invention is to provide a prop or clothespole of strong and sturdy construction having its line-engaging end reinforced to prevent splitting or breaking the wood.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reinforcing strip and resilient guard for the eye of the pole constructed in one piece.

.Further objects of the improvement are set forth in the following specification which describes -a-preferred form of construction ofthe invention as illustrated by the accompanying drawing. In the drawing:

1;,is-aperspective view of the present improvedprop, or clot hespole illustrating the manper in whichitis employed to' support the clothesline; e v Fig zis an enlarged side elevation of the end of the clothespole showing the guard for the open side of the line-engaging eye and illustrating the manner in which the line is entered into the eye; and Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the guard in closed position to prevent egress of the line from the eye, Referring to the drawing, wherein. like parts are indicated by like reference characters throughout-the several views, the present improved-clothespole is preferably constructed from a lengthor strip of. wood 2 of suitable dimensions having a lower pointed end for engaging against the ground and its upper end formed with an eye 3 ofsubstantiallyoval configuration. A relative- 1y narrow opening 4 is cut through the wood at one side of the eye 3, preferably at asharp inclination to the longitudinal axis of the pole so that the upper margin of the eye slopes downwardly to form a sort of beaked hook at 5. The opposite side of the opening 4 is rounded or curved inwardly from the lateral edgeof the pole, as indicated at 6 to serve asa guide for directing the clothesline through the opening and into the eye 3. L

The top of the clothespole 2 is preferably convexed or rounded at its corners and a reinforcing band or strip 1 of metal or other suitable ma terial is fastened against the side of the pole opposite from the opening 4 and carriedup around the top and then downwardly v on the opposite side. The metal strip-lis continued in a portion bent inwardly and upwardly to overlie the under.-

side of the beak-like hooked portion 5 of the pole and then carried completely around the interior surface of the eye 3 in a looped extension 8. At the bottom of the loop 8 the metal strip I is extended downwardly and bent into a narrower U- shaped loop 9 which is inserted into' a slot or opening [0 sawed or otherwise formed in the wood of the pole.

From its narrower loop or folded portion 9 the strip 1 is continued upwardly along the side ll of the eye 3 which, as shown most clearly in Fig. 3, is inclined outwardly slightly from the longitudinal axis of the pole. This last-described portion [2 of the metal strip 1 is extended part way across the entrance opening or slot 4 which leads into the eye 3 and has its terminal portion bent or curled around in a substantially circular loop I5; it being noted that the top of the loop I5 is spaced from the inclined upper edge of the opening 4 a distance slightly less than the diameter of the clothesline, indicated by the reference character L in the several views of the drawing. This length 12 of the strip 1 is free to yield or spring away from the edge II in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2 to admit the line or rope L through the opening 4 into the eye 3, thus serving as a resilient latch for guarding the entrance to the eye to prevent accidental release of the line therefrom. 1'

The reinforcing strip 1 is preferably constructed of non-corrosive spring metal and secured to the wooden pole 2 bytwo'pins or rivets I6 and I1, shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 3.- The upper pin or rivet l6 passes through a hole bored through the wood and has its ends projecting'through apertures in the strip 1 and riveted over to secure the strip tightly against the. sides of the pole.

The lower rivet I1 is likewise inserted through a bore in the wood with one end passing through an aperture at the lower end of the rearward portion of the strip 1 and headed over at IS. The opposite end of the rivet I1 projects through a washer i9 abutting the opposite lateral edge of the pole 2 and is headed over at 20 to secure it in place and hold the lower end of the strip 1' snugly against the side of the pole. The lower rivet I1 is so located as to pass through alining apertures in the sides of the folded or bent loop 9 at the bottom of the eye 3 whereby to securely anchor the larger loop portion of the strip 1 within the;

eye in the form of a lining therefor.

It will be observed by reference to the drawing that the strip 1 is arranged to -overlie practically all parts of the wood which come into contact with the rope or clothesline while also enclosing the upper end of the pole as a binding and reinforcing element to prevent the wood splitting at the weakest point where the eye is cut through.

'The lower rivet I! also has the effect to reinforce and prevent splitting of the main portion of the pole at the bottom of the eye 3 where the slot is out for receiving the loop 9.

It ishere noted that the sides of the loop 9 of the metal lining and reinforcing strip 1 are spaced apart for-a particular purpose, the-upper ends of the legs of the loop being rolled over or bent outwardly at the points where they join with-the main loop 8 to provide friction means to prevent thelpole from sliding on the rope or line. Stated another way, the rope L tends to crowd down into the opening between thesides of the lower loop 9 whereby it is bound therebetween and engaged by the-shoulders at the upper ends of the loop 9 to resist the tendency of the pole to slide' on-the line.

' In use the present improved clothespole is manipulated in the manner as nextexplained to conveniently engage it with and release it from the clothesline for which it serves as a prop or support. To engage it with the line the pole is grasped in the hand near its lower end with the opening 4 on its side. carried toward the line L.

This side or edge of the pole 2 is laid against the rope L in such manner that the latter will slide acrossthe curved face 6 and be hooked under the beak 5 in the relationship shown in Fig. 2 of the 5.0: drawing. A slight downward pull on'the pole will then cause the line L to slide up the incline of the hook to. cam against the looped end l5 of the guard or latch l2 to spring the latter rearwardly into the eye 3. In this way the line is readily entered into the eye 3 and as it passes the end, of the guard l2-the latter snaps back against the side H of the eye into the position shown in Fig. 3.

After the pole has been engaged with the mm L in the manner. asaboveexplainedit is set in position with its lower pointed end against the ground and suitably inclined to take up the slack in the line to raise it-to the proper height to prevent the hanging clothes from touching the ground. As the line is propped up in the-manner indicated inFig; '1 of the drawingthe rope Lwill seat in the bottom of the eye 3 in the position indicated by dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 2. The tension on the rope causes it to crowd into the relatively'narrow opening between the sides of the loop 9 so that it is frictionally engaged to prevent thepole from sliding thereon or swaying-to one side or the other. In thisway the pole takes a more secure grip on the rope to prevent it from skiddingon the line under the force of the wind or the stress produced by the weight of the clothes. Should the line be whipped about in the wind to cause that portion passing through the eye in the pole to be displaced upwardly, its lateral play will be checked at one side by the side of the eye and at the other by the looped end l5 of the latch or guard I 2. The line is thus prevented from escaping from the eye 3 to be released from the pole to sag under the weight of the clothes. In this way the present improved pole guards against accidental or unwarranted release of the clothesline which might result in tearing, soiling or otherwise injuring the clothes hung thereupon.

When it is required to release the pole from the line this operation may be performed most conveniently by engaging the rope or line L with the top of the looped end l5 on the guard l2 while giving the pole a sharp push upwardly at an angle across the line. Under this action the latch or guard l2 will be forced back in the manner shown in Fig. 2 to allow the line L to pass outwardly through the opening 4 at the side of the-eye 3..

It will be observed from' the foregoing that the present invention provides a particularly novel and ingenious-constructidn of prop or clothespole having the improved features noted;

that is; being adapted for convenient engagement with the clothesline while preventing accidental or unwarranted disengagement therefrom; preventing side slipping or skidding of the pole on the line; and further, presenting a stronger and more durable article having its line-engaging end and eye reinforced for strength and against splitting or breaking the wood.

While the improved clothespole is herein shown and described as embodied in a preferred form of construction, modifications may be made in the structure'and arrangement of its parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the in-' vention. Y r 7 Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

1. A clothesline prop or clothespole having an elongate eye at its end of substantially elliptical configuration with an opening leading from the side of the pole into the upper portion of the eye, and a resilient strip of metal overlying the inner sides of the eye to provide a smooth lining therefor and with its free end projecting part way across the opening thereinto to form a resilient latch adapted to yield to admit the clothesline into the eye and to spring into position to partly close the opening to prevent escaped the line from the eye. 2. A clothesline prop or clothespole compris ing an extended body having an'aperture at its end forming an eye with a slot leading'fronr'the side of the body into the eye, and a metal strip extending along one side of the pole, across the top thereof, down the opposite side of the pole and into the eye in overlying relation to its sides, the free end of said strip being arranged to pro: ject across the opening leading to the eye to form a resilient latch adapted to guard the entrance to the eye to normally prevent the exit of the rope therethrough. a

3. A clothesline prop or clothespole comprising an extended body'having an eye atoneend with atransverse slot leading thereinto from the side of the body at an angle to the longitudinal axis thereof to form a beaked hook, and a resilient strip secured to one side of the pole and extending across the top and down the opposite side thereoilsaid strip being continued inwardly under the beak of the hook and'around the-sides of the eye with its free end projecting part way across the opening into the eye to form a latch yieldable to permit entrance of the line into the eye and normally acting to prevent its exit therefrom.

4. As an article of manufacture, an improved clothespole comprising an extended body apertured at one end to form an eye having a slot cut through from the side to enter the upper end of the eye at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the body whereby to form a beaked hook at one side of the opening, a metal strip overlying one side of the body at its upper end and extending across its top and down the opposite side thereof around the end of the beak of the hook, said strip continued around the sides of the eye to provide a lining therefor and having a loop extending into a. slot in the body portion of the pole and with its end projecting upwardly part way across the opening to the eye to form a resilient guard therefor, and rivets extending through the body of the pole and apertures in the end portion and loop of the strip to fasten the latter in place.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a clothespole consisting in an extended body apertured at one end to form an eye having a slot leading into its side, and a metal strip extending around the sides of the eye and formed with a U-shaped loop projecting into a slot cut into the body of the pole, the sides of the loop being spaced slightly apart to adapt the clothesline to engage therewith to prevent the pole from sliding on the line.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a clothespole apertured at one end to provide an eye with a slot leading thereinto from the side of the pole, a metal strip overlying one side of the pole at its upper end and extending across the top and down the opposite side thereof, said strip continued around the inside of the eye to form a lining therefor with its free end projecting part way across the opening into the slot, said strip also formed with a U-shaped loop at the bottom of the eye inserted in a slot in the pole, and a rivet extending through an aperture in the outer portion of the strip, through a bore in the pole, through apertures in the sides of the U-shaped loop and headed over at its ends to fasten the strip in place on the pole.

'7. As a new article of manufacture, a clothespole having an elongate eye at one end formed at one side with an opening leading from the side of the pole at an angle to its longitudinal axis and entering the eye at its upper end to provide a beaked hook, a metal strip overlying one side of the pole at the upper end thereof and continued across the top and down the opposite side, said strip being extended on the under side of the beak of the hook and around the inner wall of the eye with its free end curled into a loop and projecting part way across the opening leading to the eye, and means to fasten said strip in position on the pole to reinforce the structure and prevent splitting or breaking the wood.

GEORGE G. PETERSON. 

